Corset



April 25, 1939. M; R E 2,155,485

CORSET Filed Feb. 23, 1937 MAQV-j fie/lnis,

INV R- I ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 25, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3Claims.

My invention relates to corsets, and particularly to one designed tofunction in reducing the size and in supporting the weight of the partsof the body between a location below the bust to the upper thighs, andwhich at the same time will be comfortable to the wearer when seated,standing, or walking.

It is an object of my invention .to provide a corset in which theabdomen or stomach is held from protruding, and in which the bulgingflesh above and below the restraining means of the corset is prevented.The object of my invention is accomplished by providing a corsetconstruction including a back portion and an elastic front portion,these two portions extending from a point below the bust to the upperthigh portions of the legs. Also provided are flaps which are of lessheight than the elastic front and which, when secured in place, such asby lacing, hold the abdomen or stomach from protruding. The portions ofthe elastic front projecting above and below the flaps prevent the fleshfrom bulging at these points, thus giving a very graceful contour.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a corset in whichmeans is provided for holding the buttocks and exerting an upwardforward pressure thereon, thus reducing the size and causing same toconform to the desired configuration. This object of my invention isaccomplished through the provision of the flaps referred to heretoforewhich are connected to the back portion of the corset, and whichpreferably extend diagonally upward toward the front of the corset, andwhich are preferably secured together by lacing. When the iiaps arelaced together a force or pressure in an upward forward direction isapplied to the buttocks, thus raising and confining it as aforesaid.

In the preferred form of my invention the corset is so designed that theabdomen or stomach is pulled rearwardly and thus held from protruding,and the buttocks is confined within the lower portion of the corset andis reduced in size and raised by means of an upward forward forceprovided when the flaps are laced in place. The design is such that thepressure or force employed to confine the buttocks is also employed toretract the abdomen or stomach. In the preferred form of my inventionthe constricting force ordinarily present around the waistline isavoided. By reason of the application of pressiu'es the various parts.of the body between a point below the bust and upper thighs aresupported in normal positions and confined so that their sizes arereduced, and in addition to this the pressures applied by the corset aresuch that good posture of the wearer is obtained.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a corset of thecharacter pointed out here- 5 toiore in which it is possible by theraising or lowering of the forward, front, or adjoining ends of theflaps to readjust or redistribute the pressure in order to obtain thedesired confining action or desired comfort of the wearer.

It is a still further object of my invention to provide a corset of thecharacter pointed out heretofore in which an elastic insert is providedin or adjacent to at least one of the flaps in order that the verticaladjustment of the flaps ll for the purposes pointed out in the precedingparagraph may be accomplished.

It is an important object of my invention to provide a corset which isso designed that the various parts of the body between a point below 59the bust and thighs are enclosed, properly confined, and held in normalpositions, and in which the corset will not interfere with the wearerwhen in a seated or standing position or while walking, and in which thewearer may be comfortable in these various positions.

In the preceding paragraphs I have pointed out the more prominentobjects and advantages of my invention. In the course of the followingdetailed description of a preferred form of my .30 invention I willpoint out additional objects, advantages, and features which inure fromthe details of construction of the preferred form of my invention.

Referring to the accompanying drawing in .35 which I have illustrated myinvention:

Fig. 1 is a profile view showing the corset of my invention in place onthe wearer before the flaps have been laced in place.

Fig. 2 is a profile View showing the corset fully applied.

Fig. 3 is a front view of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a plan view showing the corset fully applied as illustrated inFig. 3.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the numeral H represents a backportion of the corset which is preferably inelastic, although, ifdesired, may have elastic portions which will not interfere with theperformance of the intended functions of the corset. This fabric back Hextends from a point below the bust to the upper thighs as illustrated,and is preferably tailored to be form fitting. The. back portion Hextends around the entire back of the wearer and terminates alongvertical edges 12 at the wearers sides. The

numeral I4 represents an elastic front which is preferably made from atwo-way stretch elastic. The edges of the elastic front I4 are securedto the edges I2 of the fabric portion II, and this elastic front I4 isof the same height as the fabric back [I extending from a point belowthe bust to the upper thighs. The portions II and I4 are preferably ofsuch a size that when the corset is applied to the wearer the elasticfront I4 is stretched and, when positioned as shown in Fig. 1, exerts aconfining action to the various parts enclosed thereby, although thisconfining pressure is not sufficient to cause any discomfort to thewearer and may be considered as supplemental or subsidiary to the finalconfining action which is produced when the corset is fully applied tothe wearer. It will be seen that the fabric back II extends downwardlyon the wearer sufficiently to fully enclose the buttocks and to supportsame in the position shown in Fig. 1. It will further be seen that theelastic front I4 fully encloses the abdomen and extends downwardly tothe upper thighs so that a uniform curvature is obtained and so thatthere is no bulging of flesh.

My invention in addition to the parts II and I4 provides a pair of flapsI6, which flaps are preferably made from an inelastic material, such asfabric. Each of the flaps I6 is secured to the back portion II along theedge I2, as illustrated best in Figs. 1 and 2. The flaps I6 are of lessheight than either the back portion II or elastic front portion I4. Itwill be seen that the portions II and I4 project considerably above theupper edges of the flaps I6, and that the lower edges of the portions IIand I4 extend considerably below the lower edges of the flaps l B. Theflaps I6 are so cut that they extend upwardly and forwardly, asillustrated best in Figs. 2 and 3, to the front of the wearer where theymeet and are adapted to be secured together such as by a lacing II whichextends through eyelets I8 provided near the free edges I9 of each ofthe flaps I 6.

After the corset has been applied, as illustrated in Fig. l, the wearerthen laces the flaps I6 together and laces them sufficiently tight toconfine the various parts of the body to obtain the desired results. Iprefer to employ two lacings Ila and I'll) so that the upper and lowerportions of the flaps I6 may be independently adjustable as to pressureor constricting action desired. When the flaps I6 are laced in place theparts occupy the positions illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. It will be seenthat the flaps extend diagonally upward to the front of the wearer, andby virtue thereof an upward forward pull is exerted on the buttocks asillustrated by the arrows 20 of Fig. 2. This is effective in confiningthe various parts of the body, as will be seen from a comparison ofFigs. 1 and 2. In Fig. 1 dotted lines 2| illustrate the position of theparts of the body after the flaps I6 have been laced in place. It willbe seen that the lacing of the flaps l6 accomplishes two major results.First,'the abdomen or stomach is pulled rearwardly and, second, thebuttocks are pulled inwardly and raised. This has the effect of not onlygiving the body more graceful contours but also giving the wearer aproper posture, and the wearer will because of the proper positioning ofthe parts of the body stand or walk in a more erect and gracefulposportion I4 provides in effect a continuation of the flaps I6 andprevents the flesh from bulging outwardly at the upper and lower edgesof the flaps I6 as the flesh would do if the elastic front portion werenot provided.

It will furthermore be seen that the flaps l6 are sufliciently high withrespect to the wearer that there is no interference thereby to thewearer seating herself. The elastic front, being elastic, will permitthe proper and comfortable functioning of the hip joints, while thefabric flaps I6 are sufficiently high to offer no interference. When ina seated position, as well as in standing position, the elastic frontfunctions to prevent the bulging of flesh.

In order that the wearer may, if she so desires, adjust the distributionor magnitude of the confining forces I provide elastic inserts 23 ineach of the flaps I6. These elastic inserts 23 are preferably oftriangular shape as shown and are positioned in the lower part of eachof the flaps l6 and, in effect, form that lower portion of each flap I6where each flap is connected to the edge I2 of the fabric back portionII. To redistribute or adjust the pressures, all that is necessary is toraise the flaps I6 at their point of juncture along the free edges I9,such, for example, as indicated by dotted lines 24 in Fig. 2. It will beseen that this is possible by reason of the elastic inserts 23, and thatthe result thereof is to reduce the lateral pressure around the waist ofthe wearer and to increase the upward forward pressure indicated by thearrows 24. By a reverse action, that is, by a lowering of the flaps, thepressure around the waist may be increased, and the pressure around thebuttocks may be decreased.

In accordance with standard corset practice, where desired, stays, suchas indicated by the numerals 26 in Fig. 4, may be employed. The positioning of the stays may depend upon the needs of the wearer, and itcomes within the scope of my invention to place in the back portion II,the front portion I4, or the flaps I6 the desired stays to assist theseportions of the corset in performing their intended functions.

I recognize that various alterations and modifications may be made inthe corset of my invention illustrated herein, and therefore I do notwish to be limited to the precise details of construction illustratedherein, but wish my invention to be construed to broadly cover a corsetincorporating the principle or mode of operation of my invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a corset of the class described, the combinationof: a fabric backand elastic front attached at its side edges to the side edges of saidback adapted to surround the body from a place below the bust to theupper thighs, said back surrounding the buttocks; and fabric flapssecured to said back and adapted to be secured together at the front,said flaps being of less height than said back or said elastic front,and extending upwardly from their points of attachment to said back tothe point where they are secured together, and an elastic insert in thelower part of at least one of said flaps where it joins said.

back.

2. In a corset of the class described, the combination of z a fabricback and elastic front attached at its side edges to the side edges ofsaid back adapted to surround the body from a place below the bust tothe upper thighs, said back surrounding. the buttocks; and fabric flapsse- I6 cured to said back and adapted to be secured together at thefront, said flaps being of less height than said back or said elasticfront, and extending upwardly from their points of attachment to saidback to the point where they are secured together, and an elastic insertin the lower part of at least one of said flaps to permit verticaladjustment of said flaps to vary the application of pressure.

3. In a corset of the class described, the combination of: a fabric backand elastic front attached at its side edges to the side edges of saidback adapted to surround the body from a place below the bust to theupper thighs, said back surrounding the buttocks; and fabric flapssecured to said back and adapted to be secured together at the front,said flaps being of less height than said back or said elastic front,and extending upwardly from their points ofattachment to said back tothe point where they are secured together, the lower portions of saidflaps being attached to said back suificiently low that when said flapsare so secured together they exert an upward and forward pull on theportion of said back surrounding the buttocks, and an elastic inin thelower part of at least one of said flaps to permit vertical adjustmentof said flaps to vary the application of pressure.

MARY S. GRAVES.

